CRYSTAL CLEAR

Water is the elixir of life and a priority on any overland journey. We need at least two litres per day just for drinking, before we can even consider washing grime off our skin, brushing our teeth or tackling the dirty dishes.

Although some tannins in water have a nasty taste, and some may discolour surfaces, water is also the perfect breeding ground for a wide variety of bacteria, parasites and viruses that can ruin a trip - or even end your life.

But, for the well-equipped overlander, there are many filtration options, each with its own pros, cons and limits. In this article, we explore some of the most common and effective water filtration methods and systems.

Boiling/distilling

This is perhaps the most effective method of killing any living organisms or bacteria in the water. You won’t be able to remove a nasty taste or chemicals, even if they come from a puddle, but at least you can be sure that you won’t get the trots. If you want to remove all possible impurities, boiling the water and allowing the steam to condense and flow into another container –